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בָּדָד

𐤁𐤃𐤃

bâdâd

H910 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בדד to be separate, to isolate, to be alone

Definition

Used as an adverb or adjective, בָּדָד means 'alone' or 'in isolation,' indicating being apart from others, in a physical, social, or metaphorical sense. The semantic range encompasses being by oneself, set apart, in solitude, or abandoned, and can extend to describing a state of desolation or exclusion. The word frequently expresses a condition of separateness, whether chosen or imposed, and often carries nuances of vulnerability, uniqueness, or desolation depending on the context.

Semantic Range

alone, in solitude, isolated, set apart, desolate, forsaken, by oneself, in separation, solitary

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בָּדַד (badad), which means 'to be separate, be isolated.' בָּדָד is the noun form or adverbial usage deriving from this root, emphasizing the state or condition of being alone or in solitude.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּדָד appears across various strata of biblical Hebrew, often as an adverb (e.g., 'he dwelt alone') or adjective (e.g., 'solitary city'), to describe the personal or communal state of separation. For example, it is used to describe the expected distinctiveness of Israel among nations (Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 33:28), signifying not only physical but also socio-political or spiritual separateness. In the lament literature (Lamentations 1:1), בָּדָד intensifies the sense of loneliness or abandonment experienced by the city after calamity. The term can depict both positive distinctiveness (a people apart) and negative isolation (forsakenness, vulnerability), depending on literary context. Common English translations such as 'alone,' 'solitary,' or 'desolate' convey key aspects but can obscure the flexibility and depth of the original term—particularly its capacity to encompass both voluntary solitude and forced abandonment. There is little evidence of significant change in usage between early and late biblical Hebrew, though post-biblical Hebrew employs related words with similar senses. This term should not be conflated with terms that focus on mere physical isolation without the broader socio-emotional or spiritual overtones that בָּדָד may carry.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּדַד; separate; adverb, separately; alone, desolate, only, solitary.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בדד (b-d-d) — separation, isolation, aloneness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H905 בַּד separate piece
H906 בַּד fine linen cloth
H907 בַּד his poles
H909 בָּדַד solitude
H911 בְּדַד Separated One

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H910-01 בָּדָ֣ד badad HNcmsa alone in isolation 6
H910-02 לְ/בָדָ֣ד levadad HR/Ncmsa alone to isolation 3
H910-03 בָדָ֗ד vadad HNcmsa alone solitude 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H910-02 Numbers 23:9 לְ/בָדָ֣ד levadad HR/Ncmsa alone to isolation
H910-01 Deuteronomy 32:12 בָּדָ֣ד badad HNcmsa alone in isolation
H910-01 Deuteronomy 33:28 בָּדָד֙ badad HNcmsa alone in isolation
H910-01 Isaiah 27:10 בָּדָ֔ד badad HNcmsa solitary in isolation
H910-01 Jeremiah 15:17 בָּדָ֣ד badad HNcmsa alone in isolation
H910-01 Jeremiah 49:31 בָּדָ֥ד badad HNcmsa alone in isolation
H910-02 Micah 7:14 לְ/בָדָ֔ד levadad HR/Ncmsa alone to isolation
H910-02 Psalms 4:9 לְ/בָדָ֑ד levadad HR/Ncmsa alone to isolation
H910-03 Lamentations 1:1 בָדָ֗ד vadad HNcmsa alone solitude
H910-01 Lamentations 3:28 בָּדָד֙ badad HNcmsa alone in isolation
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